The following images were taken with the Nikkor 70-300mm VR lens using the Nikon D80 body. Unless otherwise stated, each image was recorded using the D80's Large Fine JPEG mode, with Auto White Balance, 3D Matrix metering and the Optimise
Image parameter set to the default Normal for sharpening, tone, colour, saturation
and hue; High ISO Noise Reduction was set to Normal. The individual file size, exposure
mode, shutter speed, aperture, ISO and lens details are listed for each image.

The crops are taken from the original files, reproduced at 100% and saved
in Adobe Photoshop CS2 as JPEGs with the Very High quality preset, while
the resized full images were made in Photoshop CS2 and saved with the High
quality preset. The three crops are typically taken from far left, central
and far right portions of each image.

Most of the samples below were taken at the same time as those for our Nikkor DX 55-200mm VR review, so check out our DX 55-200mm VR sample images page to directly compare how both lenses handled the same scenes.

Our first image was taken with the 70-300mm VR zoomed into 170mm. The boat was sailing quite quickly into the distance, but the D80 and lens had no focusing issues.

As with the DX 55-200mm VR, the anti-shake facilities helped us frame the shot, and the crops reveal a high degree of detail - and arguably a little more than a similar shot taken with the budget DX 55-200mm VR.

To test the 70-300mm VR at its shortest focal length we took this photo zoomed-out to 70mm. We wouldn't exactly describe the 70-300mm VR as a walkabout lens in the same way as the DX 55-200mm VR, but the shorter end can still be useful for day-to-day shots.

The depth of field is smaller than you think though at 70mm, and here the D80's choice of f5.6 in Program mode has resulted in some areas of the image not being 100% in focus. But those which are in focus are again packed with detail.

The 70-300mm VR has great potential for portraits and while you'd probably stick to the lower end of the range, this shot was taken fully zoomed-into 300mm - and from quite a distance!

VR made the framing easy though while the combination of long focal length and open aperture ensured a minimal depth of field with a very blurred background. You may wish to compare this with our portrait shot taken with the DX 55-200mm VR.